stops as yields - WordPress.com€¦ · Examples of laws relaxed for motorists contrary to public...

stops as yieldssafety and effects of the idaho law

Jason Meggs: Idaho Law Inquiry. Velo-City Global 2012. Vancouver, BC, Canada. June 26, 2012

historyNoteworthy Timeline:

• Late 1800s BICYCLE BOOM

• 1914 Mass Production of Automobiles rockets, Detroit

• 1915 First stop sign (Detroit, Michigan)

• 1920s First Interconnected Traffic Signal Systems (automatic red lights)

• 1935 First Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

• 1970s Modern Bicycle Laws (bikes held to subset of motor vehicle laws → UVC)

• “Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of

the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the

driver of a vehicle…EXCEPT”

• Stop signs used as traffic calming (“unwarranted”) in US and Canada

• Europe retains frequent use of yielding rather than stopping

• 1982 Idaho passes statewide exception for bicyclists:

stop sign as yield sign

stop LIGHT as stop sign (straight through & left turns)

- Right turn on red as yield sign


IMPORTANT

The Idaho Law

does not change

Right of Way Rules.


IMPORTANT

A Cyclist is Not Allowed

To be Reckless


IMPORTANT

All Cyclists Are Still Required

to STOP for Safety


IMPORTANT

The Difference is,

if it’s Your Turn,

and Safe to do so,

You May Roll Through!


history

TITLE 49

MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 7

PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES

49-720. STOPPING -- TURN AND STOP SIGNALS. (1) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle

approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the

intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to

any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an

immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of

highways, except that a person after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if

required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.

(2) A person operating a bicycle or human-powered vehicle approaching a steady red traffic control light

shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has

yielded, he may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person

after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way if required, may cautiously make a

right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping

and yielding to other traffic.

Source: http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title49/T49CH7SECT49-720.htm

Source: http://www.velorution.biz/images/Velorution%20-%20Yield%20sign%20held%20by%20girls%20small.jpg

http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/Title49/T49CH7SECT49-720.htm



http://www.velorution.biz/images/Velorution - Yield sign held by girls small.jpg




NEWS FLASH

WARRANTS (safety criteria) for stop signs and signals

never considered bicyclists

Many stops were in fact purchased and placed by Automobile Clubs

Source: Bob Shanteau

history


MOREOVER:

Traffic signals and stop signs have many deleterious effects.

• Increased speeding and severity of collisions

• Increased Air Pollution

• Increased Noise Pollution

• Huge costs in wear and tear on roads and vehicles

• Large costs to install and maintain

• Approximately 40% of collisions in USA occur at signals

• Intended to maximize throughput, not safety

“The purpose of the boulevard stop regulation is

to expedite the movement of traffic on certain streets

of major importance, and to this end places an

obligation on all person entering such streets to do so

in an especially cautious manner.”

– 1925 book, Street Traffic Control by Miller McClintock

history


reality checkWhich of these travelers is required to stop at stop signs?

• Electric wheelchair rider

• Inline skater

• Skateboarder

• Segway rider

• Runner

Answer: NONE!

• In California, and many other places, all are considered pedestrians

• Yet they can reach speeds comparable to bicycling (15+ MPH)

• AND are less able to anticipate and avoid collision at speed, than bicyclists

• Reduced ability to make evasive maneuvers (stopping/turning)

Inline skaters were found to need roughly 30-50 feet to stop when approaching a stop sign

from a speed of 7-13 MPH across all skill levels

• Reduced ability to hear and see

• Reduced ability to be seen


reality check

Source: http://johnnyscreepshow.blogspot.ca/

Source: shanghaiexpat.com

Source: http://t3.gstatic.com/

NOT REQUIRED

TO STOP!


reality check

What if bicyclists used pedestrian powers to have same privileges?

• Pick up bike and rotate to join cross traffic, make left turn (bypass signal)

• Jump off bike momentarily to cross limit line

• Walk a few feet to make right on red (where prohibited, e.g., France)

Source: http://www.holnesslawgroup.com/

Legal, yet safer than riding?


arguments forMany everyday bicyclists support this designation. They argue:

• A bicycle is a hybrid between car and pedestrian;

- pedestrians (including runners and people using wheelchairs) don’t have to stop, and can travel just as fast with lower visibility and lower maneuverability;

- Motorists usually don’t stop either, but present more risk & do more damage;

- Bicyclists take the big risk and are better able to identify and avoid danger

– Better sensory awareness (hearing, seeing, vibration)

– Travel speeds are slower

– Choosing speed to take intersection enhances safety and mobility

• The Idaho Law promotes bicycling;

- The energy to stop and start is very significant;

- The law codifies existing behavior, so would reduce penalization and resentment

- Tethering bicycles to motor vehicle rules is bicycle inferiority complex and squanders the energy and versatility benefits of bicycling; allow bicycling its full glory

• Signs and signals are an imposition of motor vehicle dominance.

- Walkers and bikers wait at expensive signals designed to maximize motor throughput


arguments againstSome, notably Vehicular Cyclists, oppose this designation.

They argue:

“Bicyclists fare best when they act as and are treated as vehicles”

- Slippery slope when treated differently; will lose rights (based on important history);

- Respect from the public comes from being law-abiding.

– (Laws can be changed.)

Some cyclists and non-cyclists alike express safety concerns

• Won’t this promote dangerous behavior?

• Won’t people get in more crashes?

• What about the children?

“Won’t drivers be more angry at cyclists?”


children?A primary concern is that of child safety.

• Children are in the highest risk group.

• Does a law change child behavior?

• In Idaho, children are taught to stop at signs

- Studies support that instruction and parental rules are the deciding factor

– Increases awareness

– Changes behavior (compliance)

– Reduces injury

- Supervision is key with or

without the law

Netherlands, cyclists MUCH safer,

begin educating in kindergarten.

(Pucher, 2002)Source: www.bikearlington.com/cImg/rodeo12.jpg


“Kurt’s Family,” http://www.biketreasurevalley.org/node/136

Children on bikes are a high risk group, but this is because of training, supervision, and

the inherent dangers of traffic, not stopping laws (e.g., many child injuries occur midblock

when a child exits a driveway). Age adjustments are one of the most important issues in

comparing places.

A stops as yields law could be specified for those above a certain age, e.g., age 16 and above,

just as helmet laws are often for minors or age 16 and below.

a boise family


scofflaws and societyNoncompliance is a political hot potato.

Frequently cited by opponents of bicycle facilities

Cyclists stigmatized as “Anarchist Scofflaws”

In reality, motorist noncompliance is much bigger public safety problem:

• Stop signs

• Red lights

• Turn signals

• Speeding

• Drinking and driving

• Hit and run

• Violating pedestrian ROW

• Etc.

Would legalization help usher in a cycling society?


scofflaws and society

Animosity, discrimination, violence.

Portland, Oregon:

Tripwire was placed across intersection aimed at cyclists

Driver attacks cyclist for treating red light as yield (news report)

Virginia:

Father riding with son shot and killed for rolling stop

Widespread Police Bias:

Misperception that cyclists are always at fault, influences reports.

Critical Mass events:

Many incidents aimed at cyclists

Would legalization create MORE GOODWILL on the road?


hypocrisy unveiledExamples of laws relaxed for motorists contrary to public safety:

Speed limits.

Speed limits have increased by up to 63% (from 55 MPH to 90 MPH) since the

energy crisis measures of the 1970s

In California, speeders set the speed limit (85th percentile rule).

Severity of killing someone while driving.

Originally charged as murder, now penalties small and frequently uncited.

In contrast, the Idaho Law should save lives and save oil,

unlike the above examples.


study design #1Compare Idaho’s places:

• With places that don’t have the rule

- Borders 6 states, 1 Canadian province

• Match on:

- Population:

– Size and density

– Percent bicycling (by age, gender, SES, etc.)

- Land use

- Bicycle friendliness:

– Facilities

– Culture

- Climate:

– Temperature

– Precipitation

- Geography:

– Topography

– Altitude

Source: google maps, terrain view, accessed May 3, 2008

Population 42,000;

Bronze star from LAB

(engineering)

Population 204,027;

No bicycle-friendly

designation found (2008).


BoiseUnique environment, hard to match,

but supportive & some data exists:

• Census: 1.65% bike to work

• Altitude: 2800 ft. (high desert)

• Density: 2913.1/sq mi.

• Bicycle culture: YES!

- Boise Bike Week

- Treasure Valley Cycling Alliance

- Scenic Cycling is Nearby (SPIN)

- Boise State Community Bicycle Congress

- CommuterRide (County)

- Boise Bicycle Project

- Not much bike theft?


Garren. 2007.5th and Grove Sts. www.flickr.com/photos/ecosnake/360132530/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecosnake/360132530/


smaller townsCoeur d’Alene:

Pop. 42,000

• Also unique in many ways:

- Similar issues as Boise

- LAB Bronze star, Engineering

- Geographic barriers

• Is there a good match?



little placesPullman, Washington & Moscow, Idaho pair nicely :

• Both are college towns, similar sizes, although Pullman is more hilly

• Unfortunately, neither keeps collision records

- Public records act request would take months

• Border town concern: does proximity negate effects of law?

Source: google maps, map view, accessed May 3, 2008















Source: http://pedals2people.org/blog/blogs/p2p/archive/2007/09.aspx,

accessed May 3, 2008

Village Bicycle Project

is based in Moscow


methodology

Differences between places:

Data?

Observations?

Urban form?

Culture?


comparing behaviorVideo analysis, comparable intersections:

• Bicycle rates

• Amount of compliance

• Level of Risk

- Safe to Dangerous continuum

- Validate!

– Correlates to injury rates?

Source: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BICYCLE LANES VERSUS

WIDE CURB LANES: FINAL REPOR. William W. Hunter, J. Richard

Stewart, Jane C. Stutts, Herman H. Huang, and Wayne E.

1999, FHWA-RD-99–034, Federal Highway Administration, McLean, VA


getting the goodsData Approach:

• Rates of bicycle injuries and fatalities?

- Data scarce and incompatible

- Must differentiate children from adults

Observational Approach:

• Video of behavior:

- How risky? How often?

- Drivers too.

• Conduct surveys?

Of interest:

• More or less likely to use a bicycle?

• Motorists more or less aware?

- Adaptation has been seen elsewhere





2.27X SAFER!?


getting the goodsData Approach:

• Rates of bicycle injuries and fatalities?

- Data scarce and incompatible

- Must differentiate children from adults

Observational Approach:

• Video of behavior:

- How risky? How often?

- Drivers too.

• Conduct surveys?

Of interest:

• More or less likely to use a bicycle?

• Motorists more or less aware?

- Adaptation has been seen elsewhere





“In Gainesville…many bicyclists

ran stop signs, but … motor

vehicles had adapted to this

behavior and crash risk was

minimal.” – Hunter et al.

2.27X SAFER!?


CLIMATES

Source: http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/current/climate/us-city-climates.html

BAKERSFIELD BOISE SACRAMENTO


sacramento v. boise: capitals compared

BOISE

185,787

104,591

1.56%

103 to 127

39,078 (21.03%)

17.4%

2913.1/sq mi. (69%)

2800 ft

0.0630 to 0.0776

0.000

2000 Census/SWITRS,

1999 IDAHO

Population

Workforce (>16 years)

% Bicycling to work

Bicycle Injuries 2000

Population under 15

% Higher Education

Population Density

Elevation

Injury-Commute Ratio

Fatality-Commute Ratio

SACRAMENTO

407,018

166,419

1.35%

225

93,395 (22.95%)

19.8%

4189.25/sq. mile

<200 ft

0.1012

0.0016


bakersfield v. boise: compared

BOISE

185,787

104,591

1.56%

103 to 127

39,078 (21.03%)

17.4%

2,913.1/sq mi.

2800 ft

0.0660 to 0.0880

0.000

2000 Census/SWITRS,

2000 IDAHO

Population

Workforce (>16 years)

% Bicycling to work

Bicycle Injuries 2000

Population under 15

% Higher Education

Population Density

Elevation

Injury-Commute Ratio

Fatality-Commute Ratio

BAKERSFIELD

247,057

99,769

0.53% (1/3)

84

68,023 (27.53%)

8.8%

2,184.4/sq mi (75%)

400 ft

0.1591

0.0019


data challenges, study #1ACS limitation: cannot use

• lumps taxi rides and motorcycle rides with bicycling in their “other” category.

• I wrote them to request & emphasize importance (for Census 2010 too!)

- And now it’s being scrapped!

SWITRS report limitations:

• Injury is one category (does not match Idaho KABCO scale)

• No age data by city

- California, roughly 25% of injuries are under 16 years (SWITRS, 2002-2006).

- In 2006, under 15 made up 10.3% of fatalities and 20.7% of injuries.

• Begins in 2000, so no 1999 exact comparison; also, delete after 10 years (!?)

Idaho data limitations:

• Fault and who suffered injury not specified (assume bicyclist, most severely)

General limitations:

• how does police classification of failure to yield differ?

• Are we sure both ignore bicycle-only collisions? (Evidently.)


simple ecological studyComparing cities by Census and reported collisions:Limitations: too many to mention.

Source: ACS 2006. http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/SQuest05.pdf

BUT CENSUS WAS THE BEST

AVAILABLE MEASURE OF AMOUNT

OF CYCLING.

Like a taxi with your (motor?) bike?

(Am. Comm. Survey was unusable

--- And now it’s going away!)


Boise supportive

Idaho OHS very supportive:

• GIS datasets:

- Roads

- Bike routes (recent bicycle plan)

- Signals, but no stop signs

- Some bike counts

- Collision database NOT geocoded

• Collisions: Excel for 1997 on

• Can hand-codify records back to 1987

- Unfortunately, there’s nothing around 1982

for longitudinal analysis

BUT WE HAVE MICROFILM!

HOWEVER, YOU MUST COME IN TO

THE OFFICE…


a trip to boise

Legislative History

OHS Records

Interviews

Test Intercept Survey (n=100)

Test Video Observations


a trip to boise

Microfilm proved impossible

Would take months to analyze

Difficult to read

Would not be determinative

(small sample, few years, and

yielding injuries a small percent)


a trip to boise


a trip to boise

Fortunately there was a small

archive of old reports.


a trip to boise


a trip to boise

Discoveries in the archives include:

Bicycle injuries declined 14.5% the year after implementation.

Overall bicycle injury trend 1976-1984 (before and after) “remained

constant”.

Motorcycle fatalities were similar to national.


a trip to boise

Test Video Observations at four locations (June 2008)


a trip to boise

Legislative History was a bit convoluted…


a trip to boise

One letter expressed the concern for children.


a trip to boise


a trip to boise

Concern was cleared due to effective date in future.


implications of adoptionApart from safety issues, what would be the effect of massive implementation of the Idaho Law? Predicting:

Fault and Citations avoided:

• Bicyclists are more protected by law

Energy saved!

Bicycling increases!

Pollution reduced!


additional evidence

“Proper yielding prevents crashes; stopping and

proceeding without yielding does not. A study by

the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found

that 70 percent of crashes that occurred at one-

and two-way stop signs involved stop sign

violations, but in two thirds of these cases,

the driver did stop; the crash occurred when the

driver then proceeded without yielding.”

-Florida Police Directive

Reduce “You go No YOU go” conflicts


additional evidence

Mandatory Stopping inhibits conflict avoidance:

Most incidents occur at intersections.

Cyclists have a major incentive to be safe in motion.

Cyclists have more options when in motion.

Clearing intersections when the danger minimized is imperative.

With the Idaho Law:

Cyclists are now safer because they

may choose when it’s safest to proceed.


additional evidence

London women killed for stopping:

Women in London were over thrice as likely to be killed by trucks than men

despite comprising only a quarter of cyclists there. A 2007 report by

Transport for London found a similar disparity over 1999-2004, finding:

Women more at risk

“because they are less likely than men

to disobey red lights“

- Tran, M. Women Cyclists 'at Greater Risk from Lorry Deaths'. The Guardian, Vol. UK news, 2010.


additional evidence

Perception differs:

Drivers have delayed response to cyclists,

lead to a decreased probability of their

stopping in time when the bicyclist is at risk.Walker, I. Signals are Informative but Slow Down Responses when Drivers Meet Bicyclists at Road

42 Junctions. Accident; Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 37, No. 6, 2005, pp. 1074-1085.

Motorist rideout was about 60% more likely than

bicyclists to cause bicycle injury crashesWilliam W. Hunter, J. Richard Stewart, Jane C. Stutts, Herman H. Huang, and Wayne E. Pein. A

47 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BICYCLE LANES VERSUS WIDE CURB LANES: FINAL REPORT.

48 FHWA-RD-99–034, Federal Highway Administration, McLean, VA, 1999.

“You go! No YOU go! Oh we BOTH go!”


pollution exposure is increased

Air pollution increases at intersections.

Cyclists are particularly at risk due to heavier and

deeper breathing during exercise.

Int Panis, L., B. de Geus, G. Vandenbulcke, H. Willems, B. Degraeuwe, N. Bleux, V. Mishra, I. Thomas, and

R. Meeusen. Exposure to Particulate Matter in Traffic: A Comparison of Cyclists and Car Passengers.

Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 44, No. 19, 2010, pp. 2263-2270.

Kaur, S., M. Nieuwenhuijsen, and R. Colvile. Personal Exposure of Street Canyon Intersection Users to

PM2.5, Ultrafine Particle Counts and Carbon Monoxide in Central London, UK. Atmospheric Environment,

Vol. 39, No. 20, 2005, pp. 3629-3641.

Beatrice, B., F. Petrucci, A. Alimonti, and S. Caroli. Traffic-Related Platinum and Rhodium Concentrations in

the Atmosphere of Rome. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2003, pp. 563-8.


additional evidence

The effect of long-distance bicycling on ulnar and

median nerves: an electrophysiologic evaluation of

cyclist palsy. Akuthota, et al. 2005. American

Journal of Sports Medicine.

Stopping causes injury:

One large sports study (n=1638) found 28% of

acute injuries involved “difficulty stopping or

starting a bicycle or going too slow to maintain

balance, including inability to detach from toe clips.”

Dannenberg, A. L., S. Needle, D. Mullady, and K. B. Kolodner.

Predictors of Injury among 1638 Riders in a Recreational Long-Distance

Bicycle Tour: Cycle Across Maryland.

The American Journal of Sports Medicine, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 747-753.

Stress Injuries: a hard stop, and the subsequent resuming

of speed from a hard stop, involves considerable strain on

joints, particularly the wrists and knees but also the shoulders,

elbows, neck and low back. The wrist suffers strain under

vibration, flexion and torsion during hard stops.

Results include “cyclist palsy”, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,

ulnar neuropathy, and other related injuries.


stops discourage & reduce cycling

UC Berkeley physicist Joel Fajans calculated one spends five times

the energy to maintain speed with frequent stops, an unattainable

effort; thus “bicyclists on roads with stops signs must slow dramatically,”

multiplying travel times.Fajans, J., and M. Curry. Why Bicyclists Hate Stop Signs. Access, No. 18, 2001, pp. 28-31.

In a recent Texas-based study, a route preference survey found

avoiding frequent stops was of great import, second only to

avoiding “heavy traffic”. Avoiding “high speed limits” was third and far

above the rest of the 19 categories. Sener, I. N., N. Eluru, and C. R. Bhat. An Analysis of Bicycle Route Choice Preferences in Texas, US.

Transportation, Vol. 36, No. 5, 2009; 2009, pp. 511 <last_page> 539.

In another study, Rietveld found 0.3 fewer stops per km along a route

meant a 4.9% higher share of bicycling.Rietveld, P., and V. Daniel. Determinants of Bicycle use: Do Municipal Policies Matter? Transportation

Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 38, No. 7, 2004, pp. 531 <last_page> 550.


stops discourage & reduce cycling

If bicycling decreases, cyclists are injured more

Jacobsen’s landmark Safety in Numbers study found reported injuries

inversely proportional to roughly the 0.4 power of the amount of

walking or bicycling, “consistent across geographic areas, from

specific intersections to cities and countries”.Rietveld, P., and V. Daniel. Determinants of Bicycle use: Do Municipal Policies Matter? Transportation

Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 38, No. 7, 2004, pp. 531 <last_page> 550.


health impact assessment perspective

If mandatory stopping discourages cycling, we lose the many

benefits of cycling, some of which can be quantified, e.g.:

1. Safety in Numbers:

Using Jacobsen’s finding with Rietveld’s, a free-flow route adds 164%

more cyclists, for 2.64 times more cycling, nearly halving each

cyclist’s risk of injury. This found for the case of reducing stops frequency to

2.4 stops/km (3.84/mi) rather than 12.4. Applying Jacobsen’s finding, such a

cycling increase is thus expected to improve the relative risk per cyclist to

0.55 times the previous risk.

2. Greenhouse gas and other emissions increase

3. Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT)

A new online tool provides for calculating the expected loss of life (all

cause mortality) and its economic value over time.

http://heatwalkingcycling.org/


trend towards liberty

Sign in Köpenick, Berlin. Source: Jason Meggs


trend towards liberty

Sign in Köpenick, Berlin. Source: Jason Meggs


allowing counterflow riding

Downtown Boise, Idaho, 26 Jun 2008. Source: Jason Meggs



Gdańsk, Poland, June 2012. Source: Jason Meggs



Bicyclists allowed to ride counterflow in Paris, France, May 2012. Source: Jason Meggs


paris relaxes red light rule

Turning right? When?

Cyclist waiting to turn right in Paris, France, May 2012. Source: Jason Meggs



Still waiting?

Cyclist waiting for a long time, to turn right in Paris, France, May 2012. Source: Jason Meggs



Cyclist finally turns right on green light in Paris, France, May 2012. Source: Jason Meggs

Finally turns after waiting

for minutes – just a short

distance into a bicycle lane.

As a pedestrian, could have

walked a few meters and

entered off the curb.



France required extensive studies and testing

before allowing this very new change. (Belgium

is following and Denmark is in process as well.)

Advocates had hoped that signs would only be used

for intersections deemed too dangerous, but now

signs must placed everywhere just to allow.

(In many other places, cyclists have long had the

privilege of right turn on red.)

Are such studies needed for Idaho Law?


non-detections exemption

Source: http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/wiki/dutch-cycle-because-strict-liability-made-everybody-drive-safely-and-play-nice

Numerous U.S. states now allow bicyclists

and/or motorcyclists to pass through a

red light if the light will not change for them

(failure to detect).

http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/wiki/dutch-cycle-because-strict-liability-made-everybody-drive-safely-and-play-nice


























Netherlands fault rule

Source: http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/wiki/dutch-cycle-because-strict-liability-made-everybody-drive-safely-and-play-nice

“Strict liability” in the Netherlands

Motorist at fault by default until proven otherwise.

Considered to have created much safer behavior.

Aggressive driving is a principle killer on the roads.

Related to Vulnerable Users Laws in USA,

pioneered by champion of Idaho Law in Oregon,

attorney Ray Thomas.



























alternative design solutions

Yielding can be accomplished even for high levels of traffic.

Traffic circlesrecommended for bicycle intersections (e.g., Berkeley Bike Boulevards)

Roundabouts

used for high volumes of motor vehicles, many benefits over signals

Traffic Calmed Zones/Shared Space

successful in Europe, an entire area declared a slow zone, all stops removed

Traffic calming goals through better means.

Less expensive in total analysis

Better for residents

stop signs cheap to install, but impose huge costs, plus air and noise pollution

New Signage Options

“Except Bicycles”

Yield sign for bikes

Source: endlesslove.blogspot.com


alternative design solutionsShared Space.

Trend in Europe, with experiments in North America: remove all signage

Idea of safety through uncertainty.

•Growing number of examples, many good reports

•Concerns voiced for people w/disabilities and re: aggressive drivers

Bypass or give exceptions:

•Create path behind stop sign to bypass stop for bikes (like avoiding transit stop)

•New signage (“bikes free” or “bikes yield” added to stop sign)

•Create stop-sign free “wiggle routes” esp. if follow natural path (lowest grade)

•Place bike-permeable barriers (e.g., Bike Boulevards) periodically

Minimize bike route delays at red lights

•Stop signs, not light, for cross-traffic to signals, means freedom & less waiting

seen often in Vancouver. A cyclist who needs the help of a light still gets it,

but a cyclist who wants to go does not have to wait

•Turn off signals or set them to blinking on bike routes, detector can trigger crossing


alternative design solutions

Bicycle Roundabout in Davis, California handles continous flows. Source: http://www.hr.ucdavis.edu/


Stop Sign effective when signal off at night.

Gdańsk, Poland, June 2012. Source: Jason Meggs

variants on stop signs



Downtown Boise, Idaho. Source: Jason Meggs



Missoula, Montana. Source: Jason Meggs


adoption inevitableAcross the United States, discussions and initiatives are growing:

Examples:

Oregon (repeated serious efforts)

Virginia

Arizona

Utah

California

Washington, D.C.

And more.

Support is available for any legislative initiative.

Initial adoption likely only state-by-state.

National policy in USA too slow and too unresponsive.


letters of support for oregon bill

(excerpt)



(excerpt)



(letter continued)



(letter continued)


AND THERE’S MORE!!!

..MUCH MORE…


thank you

Jason Meggs

Phone: (510) 725-9991

Email: [email protected]

Materials available at MeggsReport.COM

…please let me know of any legislative effort.

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